"A winner!"

Present day, New York City

While walking her dog in the early morning hours, Carol Taggart is accidentally shot and injured during a police drug bust gone horribly wrong. Adopted by a loving white couple when she was a child, she has had to face the relevant dogmas and hardships associated with being black in a predominantly white society. Carol is clinically dead for a few minutes on the operating table and when she is brought back, she sees life from a different perspective and questions every aspect of it.

Lieutenant Lee Grafton is on a police drug bust when things go horribly wrong. Aiming for the drug suspects, he accidentally hits an African-American woman in the dark of the night, and his life is changed forever. For some unknown reason, he feels pulled toward Carol Taggart. When he ignores the rules and admits to Carol that the bullet that shot her came from his gun, he expects anger and outrage, instead he gets quiet understanding and friendship. He finds she is unlike anyone he's ever met and constantly on his mind. A bond is forged, and the pair become slowly involved and fall in love, despite the lawsuit her family initiates against the New York police, which will affect Lee's career to some degree. The nefarious forces unleashed during the drug bust add a menace to the story, keeping Lee on his toes and determined to save Carol from becoming a victim again.

CLOSE ENCOUNTERS is the latest offering by Sandra Kitt to her fans. A story with an unusual plot, a white officer shooting an innocent black woman, and instead of rage or hate, encountering love, this multi-cultural mainstream novel is a winner. This is the first book I've read of Ms. Kitt's, but I can very enthusiastically say it won't be my last. Fast paced and intriguing to the end, the story pulls the reader in completely, making the characters come alive.

The main characters of Carol and Lee are defined beautifully and in a very convincing way, their struggles coming across so well. I could really relate to them throughout the story. Lee's guilt and emotions are presented in a believable way, as he tries to deal with the changes brought forth by this CLOSE ENCOUNTER with Carol. Reading about Carol's pain and confusion, as she deals with the forces she suddenly finds herself facing, was a truly fascinating experience. Ms Kitt's talent for blending the African-American culture in such a harmonious story is very evident throughout the book.

The secondary characters are powerful and bold too, but they don't steal the limelight from the main characters. I found the character of Lee's fifteen-year old daughter, Erica, simply delightful. Her struggles as an adolescent were so real, her voice so worldly and yet so like a teenager, I found myself enjoying her dialogue with her father.

With the action packed scenes and the tender and insightful moments between the characters, CLOSE ENCOUNTERS is a powerful and imaginative novel. If you've been thinking of reading a multi-cultural novel, I highly recommend you start with CLOSE ENCOUNTERS. You're in for a remarkable experience!

Reviewed by Leena Hyat
Courtesy The Best Reviews
Posted October 8, 2001